Tips for Beautiful Family Photos—Even When You’re Short on Time: Family Session, Fort Myers, Florida

Erica Basile Photography
May 13
3 min read

If your family is only together for a few days—or even just a weekend—it can feel like there’s no time to fit in a photo session. But here’s the good news: you can get beautiful, meaningful family photos, even on a tight schedule. The key is planning ahead and working with a photographer who can help you make the most of your time together.

Whether it’s a vacation, a holiday gathering, or a rare visit with extended family, here are some tips to help you make it happen—without adding stress to your trip.

1. Plan Ahead With Your Photographer

One of the biggest game-changers for large family photo sessions is a little bit of pre-session planning. When I know ahead of time who’s coming and what groupings are most important to you, I can create a game plan that keeps the session flowing smoothly.

As a family photographer serving Fort Myers to Naples, I’ve worked with lots of visiting families who are only in town for a short window.

Family Session Fort Myers Photographer Fort Myers to Naples Florida

For the family pictured above, the kids and grandkids were only in town together for one day! They opted for a 20-minute family mini session right in their neighborhood, which gave them beautiful photos and left the rest of the day wide open to just enjoy each other’s company.

We talked in advance about what mattered most: a big group photo, each individual family, grandparents with the grandkids, and each of the couples together.

With a clear plan, we didn’t waste time guessing or scrambling. We just enjoyed the process—and they walked away with a gallery full of the moments that meant the most.

2. Pick a Convenient Location

If your family is on a tight schedule, the best location might not be a beach or a park—it might be right outside your door.

This beautiful family chose to do a 20-minute mini session right in her neighborhood, which meant no one had to pile into cars or drive across town. That gave them more time to relax and enjoy being together—and we still captured a full gallery of beautiful images.

Another great option? A morning beach session. Families like the one pictured here have chosen to meet me early in the day when kids are well rested, the light is gorgeous, and there’s still plenty of time afterward to play in the sand or grab breakfast together. Bring your beach gear, and you can make a day out of it after the session!To see more from this session, click here.

Other families I’ve worked with here in Southwest Florida have also chosen vacation rentals, backyards, or local green spaces between Fort Myers and Naples. What matters most isn’t the location—it’s the people in it.

3. Coordinate Outfits Ahead of Time

I always suggest families wear coordinating colors, not identical outfits. One of my favorite go-to recommendations is blue—it tends to photograph well and looks good on just about everyone. The family pictured here chose a soft palette of blues, pinks, and tans and lilacs, and it looked beautiful on camera without being too matchy.

4. Get the Most Important Shots First

During big family sessions, especially when kids are involved, attention spans are short and the clock moves fast. That’s why I always start with the most important groupings first—usually the large family photo and then any must-haves like grandparents with all the grandkids or individual family units.

Once we have those, we can relax a little and move on to candids, smaller groupings, or anything extra you’ve dreamed up. When everyone knows we’ve already got the key shots in the bag, it makes the rest of the session feel easy and fun.

Final Thoughts

Even if your time together is short, you don’t have to miss the chance to capture it. With just a little planning and the right approach, your family can walk away with a collection of photos that tell your story—and bring back the memories for years to come.

If you’re looking for a family photographer in the Fort Myers to Naples area, I’d love to help you plan a session that works for your timeline—and gives you images you’ll love for a lifetime.

I offer a range of session types—from quick minis like most of the family session pictures in this blog, to full sessions with time for candids, outfit changes, or even a trip to the beach—so you can choose what works best for your time, group size, and goals. If you’re not sure where to start, just reach out—I’d love to help you plan something special for your crew!